Gender Awareness

Gender awareness refers to a state of knowledge regarding the diversity and variation within the roles and relations of men and women. The diversity and variation between the two result in differences observed in power relations, statuses, privileges, and needs. Gender awareness is also necessitates understanding to apparent gender differences between males and females in environments such as the place of work, or the place of education.

To be "gender aware" is extremely important in any environment and can be very challenging for those who haven't considered gender issues and expectations in day-to-day life. It is important for us to consider and reflect on issues that are foreign and/or testing to us; for us to "think outside the box", so that we may better understand the world around us.

Gender Awareness in Armenia:

Armenia protects the men and women of their country under specific laws, for example,

Article 14.1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia:

"Everyone shall be equal before the law. Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion, or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or other personal or social circumstances shall be prohibited."

Article 35:

"The family is the natural and fundamental cell of the society. Men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and found a family according to their free will. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and divorce."

The laws set in place are to acquire equality in the country of Armenia; however, they are not widely applied. Consequently, there lies a setback within the realm of women. Aside from the fact that the rights of women aren't widely applied, there are no specific laws protecting women from discrimination. For example, domestic violence is not considered a crime, but instead, a private matter.

Lack of law in this area has created a large defecate in the number of men to women in the workplace and politics, not to mention the general stigmas and stereotypes of women in Armenia. It is our goal to establish a law that protects the rights of women and to put and end to domestic violence and inequality in Armenia.